Guide · 6 min
What is a jumping jack rammer and when should you use it?
Also called: jumping jack, rammer, tamper
By the SIMAQ technical team · Grupo ConstruMarket ·
Short answer
The jumping jack rammer compacts by impact: it hops and strikes the soil with a small shoe. It's the machine for narrow trenches, next to pipe, foundations and walls, and for clay soils that don't respond to vibration. The SIMAQ SQ60 PRO 2 delivers 13.7 kN of impact force with a 34 × 29 cm shoe, weighs 69 kg and runs a Honda GXR120.
impact force
cm shoe
weight
Why it's called a «dancer» in Spanish
Because it jumps: the engine drives a mechanism that lifts the machine and drops it on the shoe again and again. That blow kneads the soil from above and drives the air out, even in sticky ground. That's why it's the one used when a plate won't compact.
In a trench, the 34 × 29 cm shoe fits where a wide plate won't, and it works tight against pipe or wall without riding over it. That's its big advantage over a plate.
When to use it
On pipe jobs it's common to use both: the rammer in the trench and around the pipe, and the plate or roller on the surface when the pavement is replaced.
| If you have… | Rammer? |
|---|---|
| A narrow trench for pipe or cable | Yes: it fits where a plate won't |
| Clay or silty soil | Yes: impact compacts it |
| Backfill next to walls, foundations, posts or pipe | Yes: it works right against the structure |
| Sand or gravel in an open area, pavers | No: plate compactor |
| Embankment or full street | No: roller |
How to use it
When you finish, clean the shoe, check for loose bolts and switch it off before moving it on the wheel kit.
- Check the engine and ramming-case oil, the air filter and that the shoe has no cracks or loose bolts.
- Start at idle; then go to full throttle: at half throttle it bounces out of control.
- Compact in lifts of 20 to 30 cm at most, with 3 to 4 overlapping passes.
- Keep the shoe flat on the ground and let it move itself: you just guide it.
- Bring the soil to its optimum moisture: it compacts far better.
The SIMAQ SQ60 PRO 2
EPA-certified Honda GXR120 engine, 13.7 kN impact, 34 × 29 cm shoe, 680 VPM and a 2.8 L fuel tank. It comes with a wheel kit to move it on site and a Pro-Club maintenance kit. It carries a 6-month warranty, activated by registering the machine.
You buy it and get it serviced at ConstruMarket branches in El Salvador, Guatemala (CMARKET), Nicaragua and Panama, with parts by code in the model's public parts breakdown.
Safety
And rest from the vibration: rotate operators on long days; the constant pounding tires hands and arms.
- Steel-toe boots, anti-vibration gloves and hearing protection.
- Feet away from the shoe.
- In a trench, check the slope and shoring before going down.
Before you ask for a quote, have this ready
With this, an advisor in your country can recommend the right machine in a single conversation:
- Soil type: clay, silt, sand or mixed.
- Trench width and depth.
- Metres of trench or area to compact.
- Whether there's pipe, walls or foundations nearby.
- Country and city of the job.
Common mistakes
- Working at half throttle: it bounces and punishes your wrists.
- Compacting lifts over 30 cm: the bottom never reaches density.
- Using it on loose, dry sand in an open area, where a plate does more.
- Pushing it instead of letting it move itself.
- Leaving it running lying down or on its side.
Takeaway
Rammer = impact: trenches, clay and next to structures. Plate = vibration: granular in open areas. Roller = large areas. The SQ60 PRO 2 has a Honda GXR120, 13.7 kN and a Pro-Club kit. Get a quote here and an advisor in your country will confirm availability.
Keep going
Frequently asked
Are a jumping jack and a rammer the same?
Yes. Jumping jack, rammer and tamper are names for the same impact compactor.
Which jumping jack rammer do you recommend?
For trenches, clay and backfill next to structures, the SIMAQ SQ60 PRO 2: Honda GXR120, 13.7 kN impact, 34 × 29 cm shoe and 69 kg, with a wheel kit and maintenance kit.
Rammer or plate compactor?
Rammer for clay, trenches and next to walls or pipe; plate for sand, gravel and pavers in open areas.
How deep per lift?
Work in lifts of 20 to 30 cm at most, with 3 to 4 passes per lift.
Where can I buy a SIMAQ rammer in El Salvador?
At ConstruMarket branches, SIMAQ's distributor in El Salvador; also in Guatemala (CMARKET), Nicaragua and Panama. Get a quote here and an advisor in your country will contact you.
What warranty does the SQ60 PRO 2 have?
6 months, like the rest of the light equipment. It's activated by registering the machine.
